How do I collect a CFC sample of air or unsaturated-zone air?
See Gas Sampling.

Should I collect CFC samples
if I see bubbles in the water?
Generally this is ok. We have not normally experienced
problems with this, unless the gas is due to air being drawn
into the pump or tubing lines, in which case there could be gross contamination
of old water with modern air. Normally, finely dispersed
micro bubbles are not a significant problem.

How long can I keep surface
water vs ground water samples before sending to the lab?
Microbial degradation of CFCs can occur in samples of surface
water if the sample contains particulate organic carbon
or other particulates. Please contact the lab and arrange
to send surface-water samples within several days of collection.
It is important that the lab be notified so that the
surface water samples will be analyzed as they are received.
Ground-water samples, such as from karst, that may also
contain particulates, should be treated as surface water,
to minimize potential for degradation of CFCs on storage.

Why should I collect and return
4 - 5 bottles of water from the same well?
The Reston Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory will analyze 2
of your bottles. Additional bottles will be analyzed if needed.
The collection sequence can give information on the possible transient
nature of discharge from the well during the sampling period.
In some cases, the sampling procedure may contaminate a
sample, and multiple analyses may show this. Also some samples
may be lost in shipping due to breakage.